Zardari suggests Pakistan should attend OIC meeting

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday suggested that Pakistan should attend the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being hosted by the UAE.

Taking the floor, while addressing to joint session of Parliament, the PPP co-chairman said that he did not agree with Pakistan’s decision to boycott the OIC meeting.

“I suggested that we should not refuse to attend the OIC meeting,” he said. “These countries are our friends and Pakistan should engage its friends. We should not forget our friends,” he added. “If the Parliament wishes that the government not attend the meeting, then I can’t say much,” he added.

“I suggest the foreign minister attend the OIC meeting. He should go there and talk. It does not matter if the foreign minister goes now or later. He can send the foreign secretary right now,” he maintained.

“In the current situation, Pakistan should not forget its friends. China, Russia and Turkey should play their part,” Zardari noted. “Modi’s adventure was for elections in India. Wars are not only fought by armies but also by nations,” he said. “We should work on making our economy stronger.”

Zardari applauded the squadron leader of Pakistan Air force who shot down the Indian aircraft. He said that the Pakistani pilot is a hero of the nation.

The former president also welcomed the decision to release the Indian pilot saying time warrants soft diplomacy. He said this will also help build positive image of the country.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced he will not be attending the session. Qureshi announced in a joint session of the Parliament earlier today that Pakistan will not attend the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Abu Dhabi, in protest against the OIC’s decision to invite Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.